Public Contracts Scotland Supplier Profile Changes
Are you a third sector organisation that is looking to bid for public sector contracts?
Or perhaps you’re looking for new income streams and think that public sector contracts could be a great way to do that.
Background
The Scottish Government has simplified how third sector organisations can identify themselves on Public Contracts Scotland and made it easier for public sector buyers to find, engage with and bid on contract opportunities. On this page, you can learn about the changes, and how to ensure your organisation is setup on PCS so that your organisation is in a great position to bid for these contracts.
Key changes include:
- Simplified third sector identifier on initial PCS registration
- Enhanced ability for buyers to search for Third Sector Suppliers within the Quick Quote system
- Better data collection for reporting and monitoring
The changes aim to increase third sector participation in public procurement and ultimately lead to increased year-on-year public sector spend with the third sector.
These changes support Action 8 of the SME and Third Sector Procurement Action Plan, which aims to enhance third sector data from the supplier finder on PCS to facilitate search functionality.
What is PCS?
Public Contracts Scotland (PCS) is the national procurement platform where Scottish public sector bodies advertise contract opportunities. Through PCS, suppliers can register their business, create supplier finder profiles, and access opportunities including Quick Quote requests (i.e. for any contract opportunities that are under £50,000) from public sector buyers. The platform plays a vital role in connecting public sector buyers with potential suppliers, including third sector organisations.
What has changed?
The updates to PCS include:
- A simplified process for third sector organisations to identify themselves when registering
- Enhanced search functionality allowing buyers to specifically find third sector suppliers
- Integration of third sector identification within the Quick Quote system
- Improved data collection to track engagement and impact
Why is this important?
These changes will help:
- Make it easier for third sector organisations to register and be found on PCS
- Enable public sector buyers to better identify and engage with third sector suppliers
- Support increased participation of third sector organisations in public procurement
- Generate better data on third sector engagement in public procurement
What action should third sector organisations take?
If you’re a third sector organisation:
- Visit www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
- If you are already registered, update your registration details by selecting that you are a third sector organisation. If you are not registered, when you do register be sure to select this.
- Update or create your supplier finder profile to identify as a third sector organisation, and create a searchable company profile highlighting the goods and services you provide.
- Complete all relevant sections of your supplier finder profile to maximise visibility.
- Press publish.
Additional Resources
Webinar: Public Sector Tendering - Practical First Steps for Third Sector Organisations
In this webinar Business Adviser Claire McLaughlin takes us through how to setup your profile on Public Contracts Scotland, setup alerts and find tendering opportunities.
Watch Now
Public Contracts Scotland Guides
The Public Contracts Scotland website contains a number of written and video guides that can help you with everything from setting you profile, to searching for opportunities and lots more.
Learn More
Blog: How To Become Tender Ready in Four Steps
Do you want to bid for Scottish Public Sector procurement opportunities but aren’t sure how to prepare your business for it? If so, then this is the blog for you.
Read NowNeed support?
Contact us below and we can help you with any questions you have around PCS, including how to bid for contracts.
